Parking zones, battery drain and Audis that sit still in Streatham
Lambeth has been extending controlled parking zones across Streatham, including new Streatham Vale zones that run Monday to Friday between 12pm and 2pm. For many Audi owners around Streatham Park and the streets off Streatham Common North, that means the car gets moved as little as possible once a good space is found. Cars that sit for days, then do a short hop to the Odeon or the shops on the high road, have a particular set of problems.
The battery is usually first. Modern Audis draw a small current even when locked, and short trips never fully recharge it, so a car with stop-start may start switching the system off, show electrical warnings or simply fail to start. When a battery is replaced, many Audis need it registered to the car so the charging system knows it is new; skip that and the new battery can be over or undercharged. Brake discs also rust between uses, and a car parked outside under trees near the Common collects moisture and debris in the scuttle drains.
At a service we test the battery properly, check the charging system, and inspect discs and drains as well as the usual items. Low mileage does not mean an Audi can skip its service: oil ages with time and short cold trips, and brake fluid is due by age. We follow Audi's schedule for your car and record everything so the history is clear. It is worth asking about collection, particularly if your permit only covers your own zone.
If you would rather drive, the route leaves from St Leonard's Church down Mitcham Lane and Streatham Road to Figges Marsh, then through Mitcham and south to Hackbridge, about 20 minutes. The Tate Library end of the high road can be slow, so allow extra time at peak hours. Every job is quoted in writing before work begins, and repairs carry a 3-month workmanship warranty.

